Grand Ole Opry 3/8 & 3/9

News from the Grand Ole Opry:

The Grand Ole Opry has promoted three on its Programming staff, including Nicole Judd, Audrey McGrady and Gina Keltner.

Judd has been promoted to Grand Ole Opry Associate Producer, Show Development, and will contribute to the development and production of all Opry shows, plus serve as a programming liaison with various teams including publicity, marketing, operations and finance. She will lead programming initiatives and events, including with partners WSM Radio, SiriusXM and other outlets. Judd has been with the company 17 years, most recently as Opry Marketing Manager.

McGrady has been promoted to Grand Ole Opry Talent Manager. In her role, McGrady manages all talent-related show advancement for Opry shows and contributes to numerous aspects of show production and programming strategy with the Opry programming and artist relations team. McGrady has been with the Opry since 2017.

Keltner has risen to Grand Ole Opry Associate Producer, Talent. In her new role, Keltner will book 220+ Opry shows per year and other events and initiatives, totaling more than 2,000 artist bookings annually. Keltner is marking her 25th year with the Opry.

“Nicole, Gina, and Audrey are all uniquely equipped to excel in these roles and keep the Opry building toward its momentous 100th year next year and into its second century,” says Grand Ole Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “Just as importantly, like so many of their fellow staff members, these women genuinely love the Opry and what it means to Nashville and to the people who make and love music.”

Very nice to see. Each of these ladies have been with the Opry for a while and I am happy to see their accomplishments and careers being recognized.  

Now looking ahead to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry, both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry feature very strong lineups in what will be the beginning of a very busy stretch of shows at the Opry. 

First looking at the Friday night schedule, Opry members Bill Anderson, Gary Mule Deer, Ashley McBryde and Old Crow Medicine Show are all listed. In fact, the entire second half of the show will feature only members of the Opry. For Old Crow Medicine Show, this will be an encore performance as they were just at the Opry several weeks ago, while Ashley McBryde will be making her first 2024 appearance on the show. 

Guesting on Friday will be Opry NextStage artist Anne Wilson, Hall of Fame member Jimmy Fortune, Mickey Guyton, and making his Opry debut, Paul McDonald. 

Old Crow Medicine Show and Gary Mule Deer are back on Saturday night, along with members Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith, and making their first Opry appearance of 2024, the Oak Ridge Boys. Much like Friday night, the second half of the show will feature only Opry members. 

There are two Opry debuts on Saturday: Adam Wainwright and the legendary Don McLean. Bluegrass musician Sam Bush rounds out the schedule.

Friday March 8
7:00: Jimmy Fortune, Anne Wilson, Paul McDonald, Mickey Guyton
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Gary Mule Deer, Ashley McBryde, Old Crow Medicine Show

Saturday March 9
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Sam Bush, Adam Wainwright, Don McLean
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Opry Square Dancers, Gary Mule Deer, Oak Ridge Boys, Old Crow Medicine Show

Let's take a look at those making their Opry debuts, starting with Paul McDonald, who is a legend in the music business. Born and raised in Auburn, Alabama, he was influenced early on by the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and later by the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and Tom Petty. His career accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but one recent highlight would be the start of the One Big Love Festival in Nashville. The series of shows featured over 100 acts. In late 2023, he started recording his newest album with producer Bobby Holland and with his newly formed band The Mourning Doves. That album is in the final stages of production. 

If the name Adam Wainwright sounds familiar, especially to sports fans, it should as he is a veteran Major League Baseball pitcher known for his distinguished career with the St. Louis Cardinals. A three-time All-Star, Wainwright earned a reputation for his clutch performances, particularly in post-season play, where he played a pivotal role in the Cardinal 2006 and 2011 World Series victories.

Beyond his on-field success, Wainwright is recognized for his leadership and philanthropy. Looking toward the future, Wainwright, having signed with FOX Sports and MLB Network as a color commentator for MLB broadcasts has set his talents not only toward the game but also music. With the guidance and musical contributions of Grammy award winning producer and songwriter Gary Baker, Wainwright is poised to release his self-titled debut record to the world of country music in Spring 2024.

The final Opry debut this weekend is the legendary Don McLean. 

From the press release: 

Grammy-award honoree, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Don McLean will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, March 9th, stepping into the sacred circle after nearly six decades in the business. McLean’s Top 20 singles include “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night),” “Castles In The Air,” “Cryin’,” “And I Love You So,” “Wonderful Baby,” “Since I Don’t Have You,” “It’s Just The Sun,” “If We Try,” and the Top 5 Song of the 20th Century, “American Pie.” 

“I have always been a fan of the Grand Ole Opry and country & western music,” shares McLean. “Growing up, I would watch cowboy movies and listen to Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. My career has taken me all over the world, and now, it is taking me to the Grand Ole Opry.”

Don McLean is 75 and "American Pie" was released in 1971, 53 years ago. 

As you can see, it is a great weekend to be a fan of the Grand Ole Opry. 

So, here we are. The final Saturday night at the Ryman Auditorium as the Grand Ole Opry prepares to say goodbye to its home since 1943. It was an emotional night, that has been written about many times. I am fortunate enough to have a tape of this final show and you can certainly hear that emotion from many of the artists on stage that night. 

Here is the running order from Saturday March 9, 1974: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Give Me 40 Acres
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Willis Brothers: Cool Water

6:45: Rudy's
Bobby Bare (host): Detroit City
Connie Smith: How Great Thou Art
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Bobby Bare: The Mermaids

7:00: Rudy's
Billy Grammer (host): Under The Double Eagle/Black Mountain Rag/Wildwood Flower
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Nine Pound Hammer
Bill Carlisle: Too Old To Cut The Mustard
Billy Grammer, Jr., Orange Blossome Special
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: To My Mansion In The Sky
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jeanne Pruett: You Don't Need To Move A Mountain
Lonzo and Oscar: Charming Betsy
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Ida Red
Roy Acuff: Back In The Country
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets

8:00: Martha White
Wilburn Brothers (host): Roll, Muddy River
Justin Tubb: Rambling Man
Jodi Miller: Good News
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Wilburn Brothers: Knoxville Girl
Justin Tubb: Texas Dance Hall Girl
Jodi Miller: Let's All Go Down To The River

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jan Howard: My Kind of People
The 4 Guys: Let Me Be There
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Hank Snow: Brand On My Heart
Jan Howard: Sunshine On My Shoulders
The 4 Guys: Top of The World
Hank Snow: Hello, Love

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bobby Bare (host): Come Sundown
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Wilma Lee Cooper: Philadelphia Lawyer
Bobby Bare: Blowing In The Wind/Worried Man Blues/Gotta Travel On
Skeeter Willis: Maiden's Prayer
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I Shall Not Be Moved
Bobby Bare and Bobby Bare Jr.: Daddy, What If

10:00: Fender
Stu Phillips (host): Pride
Jodi Miller: Darling, You Can Always Come Back Home
Bill Carlisle: Little Liza Jane
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): When I Lay My Burdens Down
Minnie Pearl: Jealous Loving Heart

10:30: Trailblazer
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like The Sun's Gonna Shine
Lonzo and Oscar: Traces of Life
Wilburn Brothers: God Bless American Again

10:45: Beechnut
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Jerry Clower: The Coon Hunt
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Liberty
Billy Grammer: How Great Thou Art

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): In The Misty Moonlight
Jan Howard: Where No One Stands Alone
The 4 Guys: Streaking with My Baby On A Bright & Sunny Sunday Afternoon
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Tanya Tucker: Delta Dawn
Sam McGee: Freight Train/Victor Rag/I Don't Love Nobody
Hank Snow: I Don't Hurt Anymore

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): I Walk Alone
Jeanne Pruett: You Don't Need To Move A Mountain/Satin Sheets
Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Big Boss Man/I'm Wanting To/Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms/Love Me/Now Is The Hour

The show ended just before 12:30. Jean Shepard was scheduled for both shows but cancelled, while Connie Smith and Ernie Ashworth only appeared on the early show. 

It is somewhat surprising that for the final show at the Ryman Auditorium, most of the Opry's bigger names, and some of the members who had been around for a longer period of time, skipped the show and stayed out on the road. 

On an additional note, this was the final Saturday night that Bobby Bare performed as an Opry member. Bobby did appear the following Friday night, which was the final Opry show at the Ryman, after which he gave up his Opry membership. It was said that he was not happy about the move from downtown out to the new Opry House. Bobby would continue to occasionally guest on the Opry and his membership was reinstated in 2018. 

There you have it for this week. As I wrote, next week is going to be a pretty big one at the Opry as on Wednesday night Trisha Yearwood is going to be honored upon her 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and on Saturday night the Opry will celebrate its 50th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry house. Until then, I hope everyone has a great weekend and hopefully enjoy the Opry.